Because it fills the screen and looks better than slapping it over a background. I prefer it that way when it's done right. Often times it's not put together right and can be very distracting. What I've found is the blurred background needs to be zoomed all the way in then significantly blurred. If you don't have enough blur it's very distracting.

Well, vertical video is bad enough by itself, but that annoyance alone is accentuated by the high motion borders taking up 2/3 of the screen on either side. Then the fact that its blown up and blurred makes it even worse. I think they're trying to be artsy and it needs to stop.

I agree with the gentleman from OKC. When I have to use vertical video, I layer it over a very zoomed-in, very blurred copy. Frequently I'll darken the background video and sometimes I'll even use a drop shadow.

__________________Television consultants should be hunted like the buffalo and their hides hung on the station fence as a warning to others.